Swimsuit

ABSTRACT

A swimsuit comprisinga swimsuit body;a waistband extending from the swimsuit body and defining a waistband volume; and,an inflatable drawstring arranged at least partially within the waistband volume and configured to be removed therefrom.

The present invention relates to a swimsuit. More particularly, but not exclusively, the present invention relates to a swimsuit comprising an inflatable drawstring arranged at least partially within a waistband volume and configured to be removed from the waistband volume.

Swimsuits including integral inflatable volumes are known. Such swimsuits can provide a swimmer with additional support when in the water. They are particularly useful for people who are learning to swim and also people who may have got into difficulty when in the water.

Such swimsuits have a number of drawbacks. Firstly, they require a number of extra garment panels compared to normal swimsuits to provide the inflatable volumes. This can make the swimsuit unsightly and uncomfortable to wear. Further, the inflatable volumes are fixed in positions relative to the wearer and may not always be in the ideal position. For example, if the swimsuit is a pair of swimming shorts the inflatable volumes are limited to being arranged proximate to the waist of the wearer.

The present invention seeks to overcome the problems of the prior art.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a swimsuit comprising

-   -   a swimsuit body;     -   a waistband extending from the swimsuit body and defining a         waistband volume; and,     -   an inflatable drawstring arranged at least partially within the         waistband volume and configured to be removed therefrom.

The swimsuit body of the swimsuit according to the invention does not need to include any additional panels to produce inflatable volumes. It therefore looks like a normal swimsuit and is comfortable to wear. Further, when required the wearer simply removes the drawstring from the waistband volume and inflates it to produce an inflatable volume which can be positioned wherever the wearer requires.

Preferably the waistband further comprises entrance and exit apertures, the drawstring extending through the entrance and exit apertures into the waistband volume.

Preferably the swimsuit is a pair of swimming trunks.

Preferably the inflatable drawstring comprises a folded bag.

Alternatively, the inflatable drawstring comprises a rolled bag.

Preferably, the swimsuit further comprises a one-way valve connected to the inflatable drawstring for admitting air into the inflatable drawstring.

Preferably the swimsuit further comprises a tube connected to the one-way valve.

Preferably the swimsuit further comprises a gas source connected to the one-way valve.

Preferably at least a portion of the surface of the drawstring is reflective.

Preferably the swimsuit further comprises at least one light source or source of sound.

Preferably the swimsuit further comprises at least one inflatable volume connected to the swimsuit body.

Preferably the at least one inflatable volume is detachably connected to the swimsuit body.

The present invention will now be described by way of example only and not in any limitative sense with reference to the accompanying drawings in which

FIG. 1 shows, in schematic form, a first embodiment of a swimsuit according to the invention;

FIG. 2 shows, the waistband of the swimsuit of FIG. 1 in vertical cross section;

FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b) show, in schematic form, inflatable drawstrings of further embodiments of swimsuits according to the invention in end view; and,

FIG. 4 shows, in schematic form, a further embodiment of a swimsuit according to the invention.

FIG. 1 shows, in schematic form, a first embodiment of a swimsuit 1 according to the invention. In this embodiment the swimsuit 1 is a pair of swimming trunks 1. The swimsuit 1 comprises a swimsuit body 2. Extending from the swimsuit body 2 is a waistband 3 which in turn comprises entrance and exit apertures 4,5.

The waistband 3 is shown in cross section in FIG. 2 . The waistband 3 defines a waistband volume 6. Partially arranged within the waistband volume 6 is an inflatable drawstring 7. The inflatable drawstring 7 extends through the entrance and exit apertures 4,5 and into the waistband volume 6 as is best seen in FIG. 1 .

The inflatable drawstring 7 is configured such that it can be removed from the waistband volume 6. In this embodiment this is achieved by pulling the drawstring 7 through either the entrance or exit apertures 4,5.

In this embodiment the inflatable drawstring 7 comprises a deflated bag 8 which in its deflated state is shaped as a string as shown. Connected to the bag 8 and extending through the bag wall is a one-way valve 9 by means of which air can be introduced into the bag 8. Connected to the one-way valve 9 is an inflation tube 10.

In use a wearer of the swimsuit 1 removes the inflatable drawstring 7 from the waistband volume 6. The wearer then blows into the inflation tube 10 so inflating the drawstring 7. In its inflated state the drawstring 7 is tubular. Once inflated the wearer can use it for support, positioning it wherever provides the best support.

Shown in FIG. 3(a) is the inflatable drawstring 7 of a further embodiment of a swimsuit 1 according to the invention in end view. In this embodiment the inflatable drawstring 7 is again a bag 8 but is now folded along its length into the shape of a string. When inflated the bag 8 may be any of a number of shapes, for example elliptical, cubic or curved.

Shown in FIG. 3(b) is the inflatable drawstring 7 of a further embodiment of a swimsuit 1 according to the invention in end view. In this embodiment the inflatable drawstring 7 is again a bag 8 but is now arranged as a roll as shown. In use the bag 8 is unrolled before being inflated. In an alternative embodiment the bag 8 unrolls as air enters the bag 8.

In this embodiment a portion of the surface of the bag 8 is reflective which is useful when trying to locate the wearer in the dark.

Shown in FIG. 4 is a further embodiment of a swimsuit 1 according to the invention. In this embodiment the swimsuit 1 further comprises an air horn 11 connected to the waistband 3. The swimsuit 1 further comprises a plurality of lights 12 connected to the waistband 3. The lights 12 and air horn 11 can be used by a wearer to attract attention to themselves if necessary.

The swimsuit 1 of FIG. 4 further comprises a source of compressed air 13 connected to the one-way valve 9. In use, after removing the drawstring 7 from the waistband volume 6 the wearer activates the source of compressed air 13, so inflating the inflatable drawstring 7. Use of a source of compressed air 13 enables rapid inflation of the inflatable drawstring 7 which may often be desired in an emergency. Further, use of a source of compressed air means that the wearer does not need to concentrate on inflation of the inflatable drawstring 7 which may be useful in an emergency.

The swimsuit 1 of FIG. 4 comprises a plurality of further inflatable volumes 14 connected to the swimsuit body 2. These can either be manually inflated or inflated by means of a source of compressed air. The further inflatable volumes 14 may be fixedly connected to the swimsuit body 2 or detachably connected to the swimsuit body 2. 

1. A swimsuit comprising a swimsuit body; a waistband extending from the swimsuit body and defining a waistband volume; and, an inflatable drawstring arranged at least partially within the waistband volume and configured to be removed therefrom.
 2. A swimsuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the waistband further comprises entrance and exit apertures, the drawstring extending through the entrance and exit apertures into the waistband volume.
 3. A swimsuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the swimsuit is a pair of swimming trunks.
 4. A swimsuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inflatable drawstring comprises a folded bag.
 5. A swimsuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inflatable drawstring comprises a rolled bag.
 6. A swimsuit as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a one-way valve connected to the inflatable drawstring for admitting air into the inflatable drawstring.
 7. A swimsuit as claimed in claim 6, further comprising a tube connected to the one-way valve.
 8. A swimsuit as claimed in claim 6, further comprising a gas source connected to the one-way valve.
 9. A swimsuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the surface of the drawstring is reflective.
 10. A swimsuit as claimed in claim 1, further comprising at least one light source or source of sound.
 11. A swimsuit as claimed in claim 1, further comprising at least one inflatable volume connected to the swimsuit body.
 12. A swimsuit as claimed in claim 11, wherein the at least one inflatable volume is detachably connected to the swimsuit body. 